Hunterdon grand jury indicts three in theft cases

A Hunterdon County grand jury has decided that sufficient evidence exists for the prosecution to proceed with cases against the people listed below. The defense has not yet responded to the charges. The indictment is merely a formal charge. These defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in court.

These indictments were returned on June 19.

Tabatha Garafalo, 31, of Ansonia, Conn. was charged with four counts of credit card theft fourth degree; five counts of fraudulent use of a credit card third degree; three counts of theft by deception, third degree; theft, third degree and theft by unlawful taking, third degree.

On Feb. 1 in Flemington she allegedly stole a credit card from Tony Ising. She allegedly charged $552.83 with that card to at the Homegoods store. She also allegedly spent more than $500 at Gamestop and PetValue in Raritan Township.

Also on Feb. 1 in Readington Township she allegedly stole three credit cards and a Michael Jors wallet, driver’s license, blank checks and $600 in cash from Ashley Palazzi. She allegedly used on of the cards at Chaos clothing store in Raritan Township.

Garafalo allegedly stole a credit card from Karen Brooks in Raritan Township and used it at Walmart to buy $944.65 in merchandise.

She also allegedly stole a credit card and $1,300 in cash from Maio Chen in Raritan Township.

Michael Eliades, 27, of Flemington charged with theft by unlawful taking, third degree and Ronald Lis, 50, of the same address in Flemington was charged with theft by unlawful taking, fourth degree.

Between Oct. 19 and March 1 in Raritan Township Eliades allegedly stole more than n $500 in electronics and other goods from Kohl’s department store.

On Dec. 11 Lis allegedly took bed linens worth between $200 and $500 from the same store.